Email

A Hindu woman weeps while seeing off a relative at the railway station. - INP

ISLAMABAD / SUKKUR: Taking notice of large-scale migration of Hindu families to India because of security concerns, the government has decided to beef up security for religious minorities.

Talking to reporters after an Iftar here on Thursday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said visas had been issued to 250 Hindu families under a conspiracy without checking facts.

He was answering a question about migration of 60 Hindu families to India from Sindh and Balochistan after complaining that their shops were looted, houses raided and women forced to convert to Islam.

Feeling insecure

Seven families consisting of 90 men, women and children belonging to the Hindu community of Jacobabad left for India on Wednesday night, citing lack of safety and security in Sindh.

About six months ago, 52 Hindu families from the same area had migrated to India by buses.

The seven families belonging to Thull, Bakhsha Pur and Jacobabad left by Jaffar Express.

They were seen off by relatives and a large number of people of the community at the Jacobabad railway station. After reaching Lahore, they planned to enter India at the Wagah border. There were emotional scenes as elders with tearful eyes said goodbye to them.

Talking to reporters, Amesh Kumar of Bakhsha Pur said they were businessmen but had been compelled to leave their motherland because of harassment, lawlessness, lootings and kidnapping of girls. He said he had wished to live and die in Sindh but he and other people of his community had decided to leave forever because there was no security of their children.

The Hindu General Punchayat’s chief Babu Mahesh Kumar Lakhani said lawlessness had compelled members of his community to migrate. He said Hindu girls were being kidnapped and people were facing excesses but nobody cared about them.

He alleged that elected representatives belonging to the minorities were not bothered about their problems.

Babu Mahesh said Sindh was the land of love and affection and nobody wanted to leave it, but the members of his community had been forced to take the decision because of difficult conditions, especially insecurity.

He said some people had made their lives hell but the government was not taking action. He said more families would migrate if security was not provided to the community.

Social activist Burj Lal said those going to India included youths who wanted to take the ashes of their deceased relatives to the Ganges.

He said many families had migrated to India from Jacobabad by road.

However, Jacobabad SSP Muhammad Younus Chandio claimed that complete security was being provided to the community in the district.

He said the families were not migrating but they were going to India to perform religious rites and they would return soon.

Khalid Hasnain adds from Lahore: The interior minister said the government had stopped the Hindus of Jacobabad from leaving for India.

They would be allowed to leave after complete verification. “The Indian High Commission should say why it had issued visas to them.”

“Pakistan is our homeland and at the moment we are going to India for visiting our sacred places. But if I find the situation in India better than in Pakistan I will prefer to settle there and others also think the same way,” a man who had arrived from Quetta on Thursday told Dawn at Lahore railway station. He was among seven people who had come with heavy luggage.The visibly tense garment trader said most of the Hindu families in Quetta, Jacobabad and some remote areas of Sindh were scared after their relatives had been kidnapped for ransom or looted in various incidents.

“The situation is worsening but the government is not taking any step to protect Hindus.”

He said he and others had been given a one-month visa by the Indian High Commission to visit Amritsar, Dehli and some other cities. “But if we find a good atmosphere there we will try to settle there,” he said.

Another 257 members of the community arrived in Lahore by trains and buses.

They are staying at the Sikh community’s Gurdawara Dera Sahib and Singh Sanghiani temples and in various hotels near the station.

Ganesh Das, a pilgrim, said he would never think of leaving Pakistan. “I am just going to visit our religious places,” he added.

Several other people staying at the gurdawara, including Rahul Badami, Vanesh, Alooman, Automal, Kamal and Pooja, also said they were going to visit religious places and would return to Pakistan after one month.

Meanwhile, the Evacuee Trust Property Board has made special arrangements for the pilgrims at Gurdawara Dera Sahib.

ETPB Deputy Secretary (Shrines) Azhar Sulehri said the pilgrims had no plan to leave Pakistan permanently.

He said the Indian High Commission had issued visas to 257 Hindus who were going via Wagah border on Friday.

Comments (99) Closed

Now we all know why the percentage of Hindus in Pakisatan's population has dropped from 25% in 1951 to less than 2% today.

Recommend0

Saqib

Aug 11, 2012 11:07am

Come on everybody our PM said, "everybody can leave the country, who is stopping them" :-)

Recommend0

Ula

Aug 12, 2012 04:55pm

Take some muslims from India

Recommend0

Imran

Aug 10, 2012 08:16am

I am so sorry, as a Pakistani I feel ashamed of myself. All the religions in the world advocate for harmoney and peace, but somehow these fanatics just dont understand. Sometimes it seems they do not know how humans should behave.

Recommend0

lata

Aug 10, 2012 11:38am

I am surprised that Sindhi Hindus have continued to stay in Pakistan...that the country was never going to allow pluralisitic ways of worship was clear from the time the Partition plan was announced....I hope the Indian government can rescue all the Hindus there and provide them with basics here will they try to re-settle their lives for the first two years. But I have very little hope from Sonia Gandhi and her puppets whose prime focus is to make money and send it to Swiss bank accounts. Its a scenario of gloom for Sindhi Hindus. Sindhis have become strangers in their own land and when they have migrated they have adopted alien cultures at the cost of their own.

Recommend0

fiaz ahmed

Aug 10, 2012 06:40am

Shame on us...

Recommend0

aries

Aug 10, 2012 02:59am

When in minority , pretend to be secular , like in India , USA , Europe etc etc
When in majority , declare Islamic country , like in Pakistan , Saudi and the 53 other Islamic countries.

Recommend0

Anonymous

Aug 10, 2012 03:15am

Please Highlight this Issue at the international stage so that the worth of our nation does not leave his/her motherland....

Recommend0

Sapan Kapoor

Aug 10, 2012 04:28am

Come my Hindu and Sikh brothers and sisters, you are most welcome to India, your motherland and we are waiting for your arrival. India's your own country and I'm sure you will feel at home in Hindustan. The Indian government should do everything in its capacity and make proper arrangements for the Hindu brothers and sisters arriving from Pakistan so that they could move on with their lives. Every Indian knows that India’s the only homeland of Hindus and Sikhs. India’s the country which gave birth to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, the three great religions the world has known. Thus when a Hindu or Sikh or Buddhist wants to come to their homeland, who are we to stop them? It’s their country, they can come anytime and they’re most welcome, for this is the least we can do for them. Besides if you know the history, India even gave refuge to the Parsis when they fled from Persia. India even gave refuge to 2 crore Bangladeshi migrants who are still living in different parts of our country right now. India’s given shelter to the people of every religion, such is the great culture of India.

Recommend0

Rakesh

Aug 10, 2012 04:03am

It is sad that Hindus in Pakistan even today feel so insecure. How can Pakistan claim to be the champion of Muslim minorities all o er the world treat its own so shabbily. Does this concern extend only to the Muslims. The rest are not human beings. Inspite of all the Hindu Muslim riots in India, I have never heard of a single Indian Muslim family leaving I dia for Pakistan.

Recommend0

Bakhtawer Bilal

Aug 10, 2012 04:08am

That is great. We all know that Hindus are not wanted here. Liberals know it, are saddened by it, but cannot do anything. Fanatics know it, they are happy about it, and they are making conditions worse as much as they can. Now if those poor souls did get a visa and a chance to migrate, let them. At least no one will kidnap there girls, convert them and then marry to some ghazi. No one will make a display of them on the live tv.

Recommend0

shayne

Aug 10, 2012 04:14am

Pakistan is no place for any minority now, gone are the days when tolerance was the rule of the land, If the hindus are leaving it is with great pain and suffering they are doing so, after having lived in the land of their forefathers it hurts to leave. The justice system is in shambles and protection is somewhat on paper only. Best of luck to those families adn let us pray for Pakistan.

"Interior Minister Rehman Malik said visas had been issued to 250 Hindu families under a conspiracy without checking facts. He was answering a question about migration of 60 Hindu families to India from Sindh and Balochistan after complaining that their shops were looted, houses raided and women forced to convert to Islam.
The interior minister said the government had stopped the Hindus of Jacobabad from leaving for India. They would be allowed to leave after complete verification. “The Indian High Commission should say why it had issued visas to them.”
Why do we still have this moron as Interior Minister? If any Pakistani, Hindu, Muslim,. Sikh, Christian, can get a Visa to go out of the country, who is this retard to question, how and why was the Visa issued. Issuance of visas by Foreign Consulates in Pakistan does not come under the jurisdiction of the Pakistan Government!
And with the current law and order and economic situation Pakistanis are even escaping to China and from there they make it Hong Kong and then claim Refugee Status. Get Real Mr. Malick.

Recommend0

Khalid Mahmood

Aug 10, 2012 04:58am

Investigations are needed to determine if the local landlords are actually involved in kidnapping Hindu girls.

Recommend0

Cyrus Howell

Aug 10, 2012 05:02am

the government has decided "to beef up security" for religious minorities.
There will be plenty of uniformed beef standing around.

Recommend0

Bernard Lawrence

Aug 10, 2012 05:02am

Whatever statements the Hindu families have given have been appearing in the Press for the past several years. With the sudden influx, why is it that Rehman Malik has suddenly woken up, and according to his nature, thinks this is a conspiracy.

Recommend0

NORI

Aug 10, 2012 05:09am

I've seen many comments, opinions and mails in Dawn that show so much concern about Muslims in India and other parts of the world, but what's happening in Pakistan is equally despicable. This desperate act of Hindus to migrate to India tells us how Pakistan treats its minorities. Hindus who stayed in Sindh for centuries (before the advent of Islam to sub continent) are being uprooted. May I ask those shedding tears for Muslims in India, how many times Muslims in India tried to migrate to Pakistan, the land for South Asian Muslims ? So, the basic argument for the two nation theory that Muslims are not safe under Hindu rule stands null and void. This situation is caused by not just the hatred-spewing Mullahs and their followers, but by everyone who closed their eyes and ears towards the plight of minorities. If someone thinks what's harm if a couple of hundreds migrate, then I've an example. The father of Pakistani Nuclear program A.Q.Khan was born in Bhopal. Had he not migrated to Pakistan during partition, may be today Pakistan would be a different nation with different status.

Recommend0

pankaj

Aug 10, 2012 05:13am

this story may not be totally true, but there has to partial truth, not because it is in pakistan or india, but because man always finds ways to differentiate himself from others.it may be religion, race, nationality, caste etc.the difference thus created helps the vested & anti social to let loose their animal instincts, thus making a section suffer.
this will happen any where if the govt. fails, is based on populistic politics, where contitution is disregarded, where the nation loses way that their founding fathers started.
alas this is true for whole of indian subcontinent, the scale may vary.let us not compare our selvs to some ill fated african countries,but lift ourselvs to challenge some better managed nations.

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 10, 2012 05:17am

Suggestion of a conspiracy to issue 250 Visas to Hindus who want to escape out of Kidnapping, rape and murders is a shocking and devious suggestion. Does he want to “Check the facts” and somehow refuse the visa.
People should have the fundamental right to escape the persecution. If Mr. Malik wants to curtail this right by holding back the right to passport and Visa for Pakistani citizens feeling unsafe in a land where they had lived for centuries, then it is a gross injustice and I shall be forced to highlight the plight of escaping Hindus by holding fast in front of Pakistani Consulate

Recommend0

Mian Zain ul Zafar

Aug 10, 2012 05:52am

Being a Pakistani, Its just sad. Plain simple sad. Its so sad i don't even feel the need to justify. This is not the country i grew up in...

Recommend0

kamran Zaki

Aug 10, 2012 06:15am

what about the thousands who move abroad every year due to the same security reasons.

Recommend0

Adam

Aug 10, 2012 06:17am

When does Rahman Malik not see conspiracy in domestic issues?

Recommend0

shoaib

Aug 10, 2012 06:20am

Sad day

Recommend0

Aamir, San Diego USA

Aug 10, 2012 06:58am

Ethnic cleansing. Rehman Malik thinks that this is a conspiracy....instead of accepting responsibility..what a sad joke being played with human lives.

Recommend0

Atish

Aug 10, 2012 06:59am

Unfortunately you have to come here to have your say...!

Recommend0

Neutral

Aug 10, 2012 07:33am

PPP govt Zindabad......another feather in the cap of democracy....

Recommend0

an_ashamed_Paksitani

Aug 10, 2012 08:32am

I feel ashamed of being a Pakistani and a Muslim - where a non-muslim can not live
Shame on us - Pakistanis

Recommend0

Sindh_Hindu

Aug 10, 2012 08:38am

He should have taken notice in same way when their daughters were converted forcibly...

Recommend0

caan

Aug 10, 2012 09:05am

and yet again the people of sindh will vote for peoples "PARTY"

Recommend0

ss verma

Aug 10, 2012 09:06am

Its time that Pakistan had a ministry of Conspiracies
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Recommend0

M khan

Aug 10, 2012 09:21am

The picture says it all. I dont think we realize what kind of mess are we in. I can only imagine how would the minorities feel in a country , where the word tollerence has been removed from the dictionary and idiots and thugs are cheered.I never understood this obsession with religion. Lets try and act like humans first, Is it too much to ask?

Recommend0

Deepen

Aug 10, 2012 09:26am

Have you heard of any Muslim from India wanting to migrate to Pakistan because he or his family was harrassed? Wonder why not?!!

Recommend0

sal

Aug 10, 2012 09:46am

it's the sinking ship and the best you can do is "Leave" before it's too late

Recommend0

michael

Aug 10, 2012 10:27am

Shame on India and Pak. They need to put their differences away and stop this nonsense.

Recommend0

Rehan

Aug 10, 2012 11:08am

@NORI: your argument doesn't make the Two Nation Theory null and void. Two Nation Theory is valid as long as Pakistan is there.

Recommend0

Vijender Singh

Aug 10, 2012 11:09am

You are a good depict of majority in Pakistan, thanks for putting it so precisely. I shall look forward for the day when only "good" people are left in Pakistan.

Recommend0

Sami Malik

Aug 10, 2012 11:09am

What about Ahmedis in Punjab???. In my city Scholars have announced that in the Aakhri Ashra of Ramazan throwing stones at Ahmedi is obligatory as they are devils and it is an obligation of Every Muslim to kill the devils in the holiest time of the year. Already many Ahmedis are closing their shops in fear of Persecution in the last ten days of Ramazan. Please visit areas of Punjab where Ahmedis are considered Animals and even a new fatwa have come that anyone who will say Salaam to an Ahmedi will directly go to the Hell. Atleast someone is listening to the plight of the Hindus. What about Ahmedis and Christians. ???? Ahmedis and Christians in Punjab are not even allowed to set up a restaurant as people think that it is forbidden to eat with a dog and with a Non Muslim.

Recommend0

Salam Dharejo

Aug 10, 2012 11:15am

I condemn the act of state to snatch the right of freedom of movement. How Rehaman Malik dares to force citizen not to pursue life in accordance with their free will. Yes i believe that there is conspiracy against Hindu in Pakistan and being a home minister Mr. Malik is supposed to provide protection to Hindus in Pakistan. Therefore, he need to improve law and order situation in Upper part of Sindh (It is infact conspiracy that compelled Hindus to migrate), so as he have never did since last four years. Now he is trying to force them to live in such a suffocating environment and creating problem not issuing visas.
What a funny and non sense step he is taking.

Recommend0

Sami Malik

Aug 10, 2012 11:16am

The Sindhi Hindus are die hard fans of PPPP and they are Worshippers of Bhutto but they dont remember that Hindu, Ahmedi and Christian persecution started in Bhutto s time when Bhutto announced that he is going to make Islamic Qilla in Pakistan. Bhutto announced that no one can work on Friday and he said that Muslims are Pakistanis while others are Minorities and he took away your right to even become a Prime Minister and a President. Non Muslim cannot even take the ordinary seat in parliament and it is not allowed to even think of prime minister and president. Bhutto prohibit you to go to clubs and even do the Preaching. So Keep on Worshipping the soul of Bhutto that is actually haunting you. You people deserve this. The person who declare you Minority is the same whom you vote everytime in Sindh . So dont whine. Your own ignorance of supporting the ones who persecuted you is going to haunt you now.

Recommend0

Ujrail

Aug 10, 2012 01:20pm

Hindus in Sindh are suffering for congress' hypocrisy at the time of partition. Even at present, Indian laws on nationality bar any one born in a country that was part of British India to obtain Indian nationality, except those in present day India. If you are so sympathetic to Hindus of Pakistan, move for legislation to modify nationality laws in your country.

Recommend0

riky

Aug 10, 2012 02:36pm

who is responsible for peoples sufferings?
govt? who oppoints govt? society ? who is society? i think its you and me my friends.
it is fundamental right of any human to live where ever he/she chooses to, regardsless of her/his faith.
there is something terribly wrong with human mentality.

Recommend0

Qazi Mehran Sindhi

Aug 10, 2012 02:46pm

Sapan Kapoor...you have your own point of view..i respect it...but Sindhi Hindu's and Sikh's motherland is Sindh...only Sindh...we are trying our best efforts for make them secure...please dont leave Sindh...you are from us and we are from you...think again...you can not take fresh breath like Sindh in other country...we need your support...plz brothers you can go for visit but we dont allow you to go far away from us forever.....its tragedy...plz wake up Sindhi Nationalists organization plz...oh my God safe us and our Hindus from seperation.....

Recommend0

Qazi Mehran Sindhi

Aug 10, 2012 02:54pm

Sindhi Hindu should not have to leave Sindh.............

Recommend0

Desi

Aug 10, 2012 03:49pm

One thing is for sure, the Hindus migrating to India will be surprised to see how warm, welcoming, friendly and honestly good Indian Muslims are despite some minor negligible incidents!

Recommend0

Sid

Aug 10, 2012 06:21pm

IMHO Two nation theory was invalid the day 40% muslims decided to stay back in India, and so did numerous hindus and sikhs in East and West Pakistan (including Bangladesh). the fact that your homeland is your homeland, irrespective of your religion negated this theory.
East Pakistan realised their roots are Bengali (Muslim Bengali), Bangladesh was formed and its now started to progress.
Unfortunately, Pakistan always looked to West in its formative years, and now Saudia. Pakistanis still do not know what they really are. Do your roots lie in India, or do they lie in Saudia.
I do not expect (nor do I want) Pakistan to ever be a part of India. What is most important for Indians is for Pakistan to be stable and have peaceful relations and trade with us. But for that you will have to realise that your and our roots are the same. Essentially, you are Indians, just with a muslim majority. You are like any Indian muslim from Gujrat, UP, Bihar or Punjab. Add a bit of Pashtun, Baloch and some good old Sindhis and we get Pakistan.

Recommend0

Sid

Aug 10, 2012 06:28pm

Until that day comes, lets hope our wars are restricted to the cricket and hockey fields. Looking at the way we are performing in hockey, it wont ever be a fight for a gold medal, rather who doesn't come last!

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 10, 2012 08:44pm

Minorties in India are unsafe only in areas where Hindus are in Minority.

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 10, 2012 08:47pm

Only one Christian women was abducted and forcibly converted. Even she was allowed to escape and kept in a secluded place along with her family.

Recommend0

Guest

Aug 10, 2012 08:48pm

Hmm great observation!! Someone might say the same to the entire nation of the Pakistan.

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 10, 2012 08:50pm

Let me think what you are saying. Shame on India because Hindus want to escape from persecution and they are not allowed.

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 10, 2012 08:53pm

Thanks to DAWN for publishing this. Thanks to each and every one who feels the pain. This is human.

Recommend0

Kumar

Aug 10, 2012 09:11pm

Well said. Lots feel this way.

Recommend0

roquefort

Aug 10, 2012 10:06pm

Crying out loud for the muslims of Burma? These people in Pakistan should see the state of their own country even in the month of Ramadan the killings continue. Tolerance wise the worst place to be on the face of the Earth.

Recommend0

Nadeem Shah

Aug 11, 2012 12:36am

Sad is this to hear and see what is happening. Regardless of what the religion label is for any person, the important thing is that real people (no the ruling elite) have no access to jobs, security, justice. As a further assault these merciless politicians keep the heat on to exploit dark side of human fears of racial, religious and territorial divisions. I am human being first and last so are these people. So please don not get into the trap of the weak thinking - keep your frustration for the corrupt leaders and not for each other.

Recommend0

Rao

Aug 11, 2012 01:02am

Dude I thought y'all said India is a secular country?

Recommend0

Mahmood Ahmad

Aug 11, 2012 02:24am

Quran 2:256: There shall be no compulsion in religion....

Recommend0

Ashok, USA

Aug 11, 2012 02:26am

Partition of new kind. Oh my god, picture worth a million words, thank you Dawn.

Recommend0

Ajaya K Dutt

Aug 11, 2012 03:33am

All 250 people, except for a Hindu doctor with his family, were held at platform for 7 hours before letting them go; on order of Mr Malik. They were let go only after getting assurance that they shall return.
This is most evil act of Pakistani Government. I am writing a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan, in my blood, questioning why basic right of protection is denied to Hindus and then why their right to emigrate is curtailed.
Thanks for Mr Zardari for setting up commission to look into the grievances of community. Thanks to all the humans who feel disgusted by evil acts and that also during this holy month.

Recommend0

manish

Aug 11, 2012 03:39am

so, who should they vote to?
hafiz saeed, imran khan?

Recommend0

Deepak Anand

Aug 11, 2012 03:41am

Very sad situation, its time to look inside than worrying about thousand miles away serbian, philistine, burmese muslims etc etc.

Recommend0

vijay

Aug 11, 2012 03:48am

Why is Pakistan always in the news for the wrong reasons

Recommend0

Joginder Kumar Gera

Aug 11, 2012 04:43am

I am a second generation Hindu from Chaman. We were very educated and wealthy business family there.
We migrated to India in 1947 along with about 500 families from Baluchistan leaving everything behind. We are living now very happily in India and spread to many other countries of the world.
We feel that our elders took a very wise decision to leave in spite of the assurances from local Muslims to protect us.

Recommend0

imran

Aug 11, 2012 04:25am

Its simply shows that the state is loosing controll its not only the hindues and other minorities see the poor pakistanis especially in the rural areas and their sufferings so its not the matter of relegion its the failure of pakistani state to provide protection to its every citizen

Recommend0

Madan

Aug 11, 2012 04:41am

Who is secure in Pakistan,no body?The only difference is that only Hindus are attacked for ransome,coversion to muslim religion and kidnapping.Law and order conditions have worsened and no body is safe including the ministers.Only God can save this nation and Rehman Malik has no right to question the action of the High commisioner of India in the matter of issue of visas to any body.

Recommend0

M.Jan

Aug 11, 2012 05:27am

I don't think Hindu families migrating to India is an issue. Thousands of Pakistanis move overseas every year to escape the harsh conditions in search of better life. Life is tough for almost everyone in Pakistan not just the minorities. It is very selfish of those who want more than their fair share and if they can't get it because the country is going through a crisis and simply hasn't got the means to appease its 'special' children then they turn on the country and portray it as a land of monsters helping its enemies in the process. If someone wants to leave the country they should do it without demonising the nation especially without hard facts. Hindus may have been victims of crime in Pakistan but criminals live in every society. Using such incidents of crime to tarnish the whole nation is betrayal.

Recommend0

Krish

Aug 11, 2012 05:28am

Correction, Lata. India is not a Hindu country. Those who practice Hinduism just happen to be in majority in India. There is only one "Hindu" country in the world, and that is Nepal.
In India, I have worked for years side by side with Muslims, Christians, Parsees, etc, and never faced a problem anytime, on account of one's faith. For a few years in the Gulf, I worked with Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans, and we always felt we were from the same part of the world - and I interacted mostly with ordinary labourers and junior staff, as one among them, and felt our differences only enriched our perspective.

Recommend0

Ratnesh

Aug 11, 2012 05:58am

Bakhtawar Bhai, May your tribe increase and prosper. For only therein lies the hope for Pakistan. Introspection to see where the country is headed is the need of the hour. Sane people like will need to take the initative and give the impetus for a change in thinking. It is a task which is getting difficult by the day. Good Luck.

Recommend0

Surendran

Aug 11, 2012 06:10am

When Muslims are not safe in Pakistan what to talk about minorities? Pakistan has gone down a path where turning away looks IMPOSSIBLE, natural forces will have to play out as a consequence of past and present actions.

Recommend0

Afee

Aug 11, 2012 06:15am

Well! My friend Pakistan is full of immigrants from India who fled the persecution for one whole decade after its birth, my own family and numbers of relatives are among them, so please go back to your cocoon of ignorance.
These Hindus had never felt discrimination because they were living relatively affluent life among Muslim neighbors. Now the rising wave of fundamentalism and powerless governance in Pakistan has made life of minorities insecure, even for diverse faith of Muslims are afraid of their survival. Hope Pakistani people realizes the problem and do something about it.

Recommend0

Surendran

Aug 11, 2012 06:31am

When Pakistan is not safe for Muslims, what to talk about minorities. Pakistan has gone down a path from where it is difficult to turn away. Natural causes will have to play out as a consequence of past and present actions.

Recommend0

Indusonian

Aug 11, 2012 06:51am

What is happening in Pakistan is due to the fact this government wants to show the world that Pakistan is full of religious nut cases - which is not the case. Before blaming Islam for this, please study Islamic history to get your answers. What is happening in Pakistan has nothing to do with Islam. Islam protects minorities and Muslims living in Non-Muslim countries have to follow the law of the land.

Recommend0

suresh

Aug 11, 2012 07:00am

Perhaps you have not understood what BB meant - he just related the true facts of the Pakistan Society towards minorities especially hindus which the Politicians and the law enforcement agencies will not admit and what an ordinary citizen will do under the circumstances and I appreciate that.

Recommend0

Ahtasham

Aug 11, 2012 07:20am

Not only Hindus even Pakistani Muslims are also suffering. Hindus are going back to India but What about Pakistani Muslims and where they will Go...????? Shame for this Government who are not able to secure any one in this beautiful country....

Umm...shame on India...for what exactly? Did you even read the report?

Recommend0

Shubs

Aug 11, 2012 09:15am

@Afee: You do realize that the question refers to the present and not to partition almost seven decades ago, right?

Recommend0

Kuppuji

Aug 11, 2012 12:41pm

It is interesting that Dawn also carried an article today (Independence Day: O God, Put Out This Fire for Us). The contrast between that article and the "Malik Sees..." news report is obvious and telling. When Hindus and Muslims are both minorities in another land, they are great friends or at least don't hate each other. No explanation is needed why. I would also like to endorse the view expressed by one commentator above that no Indian Muslim wishes to migrate to Pakistan because of alleged atrocities. Despite the various reports of discrimination, Indian Muslims feel they are relatively safe in India.

Recommend0

saythetruth

Aug 11, 2012 12:43pm

The economical situation in India is much better than Pakistan and majority of the Hindus living in Pakistan see this as a opportunity and they have the right to move to a country that offer them a better living. Many immigrants from Africa make similar stories that their life are threaten in their homeland and they want to immigrate to Europe or USA but behind the majority of the stories the real reason is chance of better life in the west. Don't get me wrong some Hindus are mistreated but if you apply the law of proportions the the lawlessness and the crime against is almost same for everybody in Pakistan and not just against the Hindus. We should not stop Hindus it is their right and we should even help them if the chose to live in India.

Recommend0

PANKAJ

Aug 11, 2012 12:57pm

The beauty of pakistan is being destroyed by fundamentalist. The Hindus living in Pakistan showed their faith in Muslims at the time of partition , not with the fundamentalists . Islam is the other side of tolerance It should not be used for the wrong reasons.

Recommend0

abdul

Aug 11, 2012 01:37pm

true

Recommend0

Abhik

Aug 11, 2012 01:38pm

But would you blame the people for leaving seeing what kind of problems they have been facing? The government has done nothing and Muslims who feel sympathetically face the ire of the fanatics if they wish to do anything. what choice do these people have, especially if they are really poor?

Recommend0

Anonymous_Neutral

Aug 11, 2012 02:09pm

Even Muslims are not safe in pakistan.... where they will go :(

Recommend0

masmanz

Aug 11, 2012 02:28pm

Hindus have lived in Sindh for over a thousand year under Islamic rule, when the Qazis were swift to deliver justice and the rulers took keen interest in maintaining law and order. The current problem in Pakistan has nothing to do with Islam or Secularism it is shear lawlessness and everyone is suffering. Blaming the Mullahs is an easy way to absolve the real culprits -- the ruling class. Kidnapping for ransom is not just limited to minorities, if you are rich enough to arrange for your own security then you are safe but if you are just moderately rich. own a few shops or a little land, you are at the mercy of land grabbers, kidnappers, and extortionists. I would argue that such a high level of lawlessness is not possible without the active encouragements from some of those who are in power.
If Mr. Rahman Malik is looking for a conspiracy he just has to simply look for those among his colleagues who are profiteering from this lawlessness.

Recommend0

APakistaniChristian

Aug 11, 2012 03:26pm

As a Pakistan Christian, I have personally experienced the persecution of the minorities in Pakistan. I hope that the Christians in Pakistan are also offered the option to migrate to India, just like the Hindus in Pakistan. I am sure, not one Christian will opt to live in Pakistan if they can migrate to India. I hope the people of India are kind and generous enough to welcome Christians and other minorities from Pakistan to escape this life of a perpetual nightmare and start afresh in India.

Recommend0

AHA

Aug 11, 2012 03:34pm

You got it all wrong, my friend.
People who want more than their fair share actually stay in Pakistan - just look at the likes of Zardaris and Sharifs. Pakistan has so much to offer to the likes of these people.
You got another issue totally messed up as well.
The people committing crimes against Hindus and other monorities are not considered criminals by a vast majority of the people of Pakistan. They are considered horoes.

Recommend0

Naveed

Aug 11, 2012 03:36pm

"...want more than fair share..."...."special children..." Vow!
I suppose it is true, there is no medicine for ignorance and self-righteousness!

Recommend0

AHA

Aug 11, 2012 03:37pm

History is meaningless to people being murdered by the religious followers of TODAY.

Recommend0

seth sarwar

Aug 11, 2012 04:00pm

Shame on Mr. Malik, he has good excuse "Conspiracy" What is he doing in Islamabad, he should be meeting the families in Jacobad and assuring them of safety instead of talking of conspiracies.
God may help Pakistan

Recommend0

abdul

Aug 12, 2012 01:45pm

dear friend........ islam is not the one that u guys follow ..... see what is islam in india.... please dont teach us islam.... get or mullahs sorted else u will be another afghanistan and then we will be laughing our guts out ..... as it is we are

Recommend0

Naveed

Aug 12, 2012 02:03pm

With all due respect, let us not hide behind history. History is not all objective, and actual events get shamelessly bent/revised to support a specific view point or agenda. We are living in "today", not yesterday. I could not care less, if someone is putting me to sword today and, at the same time, consoles me that we used to be different in the past.
Interestingly, India, with the Hindu majority, has had presidents, prime ministers, chief ministers and heads of the armed forces from minorites. In the US, a person with the middle name "Hussein" becomes the president of the country. In Pakistan, the costitution forbids minorities to hold any such positions. But, of course, we love to preach to others that everybody in Pakistan has equal rights. This is history for tomorrow!

Recommend0

Ali Hamid

Aug 11, 2012 08:12pm

At the moment Pakistan is going through a very bad phase. Every rich person is being kidnapped for ransom regardless of his religion, ethinicity or faith. If it involves minority it gets highlighted. High time for Government of Pakistan to understand the sorry state of all Pakistanis especially the minorities and provide them adequate social as well as financial securtiy. I hope and wish things get well for all Pakistanis and Hindus in particular.

Recommend0

Haider

Aug 11, 2012 09:44pm

Ignorance is such a bliss.

Recommend0

Ahmed

Aug 11, 2012 10:07pm

I wonder if it just hindus or would the muslims of Pakistan do the same if they can get political asylum in India. The fact is in last four years every citizen in Pakistan has become insecure not just hindus. India provides more opportunnities to its citizens than Paksitan. Hindus in Pakistan can play the religious card, so they are doing. It will be interesting to see a sum of people who have 1) immigrated legally 2) immigrated ilegally 3) tried and failed to immigrate illegally 4) above all, applied and waiting to migrate to non muslim countries (US, EU, Austalia). The point is hindus are migrating for being targetted but just india would provide better conditions for their familes.

Recommend0

Shankar

Aug 12, 2012 06:53am

Instead of shedding crocodile's tears about the plight of minorities in Pakistan, you guys do something! Even better, keep shedding your crocodile's tears for another 10 years and the problem will solve by itself. There will be no minorities left in Pakistan!

Recommend0

Naseem

Aug 10, 2012 09:29am

We should be ashamed that we are a citizen of a country where no one is safe to live.